English Hospitals Bring Back Mask Mandates As Covid Rebounds

Some English hospitals have started asking visitors to wear masks as Covid-19 cases rise again.

From Wednesday, visitors to Colchester and Ipswich hospitals in the East of the country will be given surgical masks to limit the spread of the disease onsite.

Hospitals in Gloucestershire in the south west announced similar changes last week.

Lawmakers removed legal requirements on mask-wearing in January following a successful booster campaign.

But hospitals and other healthcare settings have continued to ask visitors to wear them, sometimes even when disease circulation is relatively low.

Chief nurse at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which operates the Colchester and Ipswich sites, said: “Sadly we have seen an increase in the number of patients who have Covid-19, so we are having to enhance infection prevention and control measures in our wards and departments.

“That is why we are asking visitors to do their bit again now and help stop the spread of Covid-19 in our hospitals by wearing a surgical face mask when they visit.”

The number of hospital patients testing positive across England has started to rise in recent days following a period of decline. Just under 5,150 patients had the disease on September 21 — an increase of around 600 cases over four days.

The total number is still relatively modest, but hospital leaders expect cases to rise further over the coming weeks.

It is hoped a fall booster campaign will help limit the impact of a potential autumn Covid-19 wave. Over the last two weeks, the National Health Service has already delivered more than 2.1 million vaccine doses to patients in England. Many patients have also received flu jabs.

NHS director of vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said: “With experts warning that Covid and flu could combine in a ‘twindemic’ there is no room for complacency.

“We are still seeing hundreds of patients with Covid being admitted to hospital every day and getting an autumn booster could save your life.”

He urged anyone eligible for a jab to book an appointment online or by phone.

Currently, anyone over 65, as well as carers, pregnant women and younger people with certain health conditions are eligible for the autumn booster. Those aged 50 or over are expected to get a jab in the coming months.